The Proctor Ski Area, formerly known as the Blackwater Ski Area, has long played an integral role in the community of Andover’s love of skiing. Olympians have trained at the small hill, including Sochi’s Nick Fairall, Proctor class of ’07. Thousands of young skiers have first learned to ski on ski area’s three alpine trails, four Nordic ski jumps, and six kilometers of cross country ski trails.

Through the work of Howard George, Garry George, and many others, the Proctor Ski Area has evolved into one of the finest alpine racing and training facilities in the Northeast. This winter, the Dartmouth College, Brown University, and Boston College ski teams chose to train regularly at Proctor’s facility.

While improvements to the grade and length of alpine training runs has been augmented to host top level skiers, the Proctor Ski Area also serves the Andover community. The Andover Outing Club and Andover Elementary/Middle School ski program took full advantage of the vastly improved snow conditions this year, inspiring another generation of alpine skiers, Nordic skiers, and ski jumpers to pursue their dreams.

Over the past year, Proctor’s dedication to environmental sustainability has been evident in upgrades to its privately owned and operated ski area. This commitment was recently recognized as Proctor was awarded the 2014 Golden Eagle Award for Environmental Excellence. This award is granted by the National Ski Area Association and Ski magazine to ski areas that have demonstrated significant commitment to environmental sustainability in the operation of their ski area.

Proctor’s selection as one of the top three ski areas receiving under 200,000 visitors a year is impressive. The award is a direct result of Proctor’s overarching commitment to its Environmental Mission Statement and the commitment of people like Garry and Lynn George to the long tradition of providing Proctor’s skiers and all visitors with exceptional ski conditions.

The improvements visitors saw in snow conditions this year can be attributed to a switch from diesel fuel to electric-powered compressors with a compressor docking station; the purchase and installation of 21 HKD SV10 Impulse Tower Guns; the purchase of a Turbo Cristal Fan Gun; the installation of six new GE PF400 Power Flood lights, bringing the total of lighting to 20 lights, replacing ones that were 15 years old; a new intake pump in the river; a new pump in the pump house; and 1,200 feet of new snowmaking pipe. These are just the highlights of the most recent round of improvements to the ski area.

The most recent project helped Proctor further achieve its Environmental Mission by reducing its annual energy consumption by 180,157 kilowatt-hours (kwh) per year. Annual compressed air usage went from 77,339,091 cubic feet per year with the old system to 11,041,434 with the new system, bringing our kilowatt usage from 210,161 kwh per year to 30,004 kwh per year.

Being able to run an average of 23 snow guns at one time (compared to an average of seven with the old system) has brought the hours of snowmaking operation from 504 hours with the old system to 157 with the new system. Snowmaking savings on diesel fuel has added to the economic impact of the project by saving over $43,000.

The overall environmental impact of ski area improvements has been a total reduction of 180,157 kwh, or 140 tons of CO2. This is equivalent to the annual emissions from 26.5 passenger cars; the annual electrical consumption of 17 US homes; or 295 barrels of oil.

Congratulations to all those who have contributed to the Proctor Ski Area’s success, not only this year, but through its long history of serving the Andover community.